Brad Scott: we show unbelievable resolve and character
8:40

North Melbourne coach Brad Scott says his players showed unbelievable resolve and character fight back and record a stirring win over Richmond.

Fox Sports

08 Jun 2014

Sport/AFL/News

North Melbourne trailed Richmond by 36 points at the 28 minute mark of the second quarter and had more passengers than a jumbo jet. Unfathomably, 17 minutes later they took the lead, slamming on eight unanswered goals in a withering third quarter surge.

It was reminiscent of some of North’s best offensive displays of recent years, but this was on a whole other level of power football. By the time the Tigers next scored, 23 minutes into the third quarter, it had been a 52-point turnaround in 22 minutes.

No one symbolised the dramatic turnaround like Drew Petrie, who went from one kick, no marks and scoreless at half time, to walking off with 14 disposals, six marks and 4.1. He would have finally slept well last night.

Levi Greenwood was again brilliant, and with Brent Harvey (25 disposals, 3.2), was the one player fighting against the tide in the first half. Greenwood is having some season and last night kept Trent Cotchin to 24 largely blunt disposals while racking up 29 himself.

But the bottom line is that much work needs to be done if this side is going to inflict any damage in September. At half time you wouldn’t have been corrected for levelling any kind of accusation North’s way.

Undisciplined because Scott Thompson landed a roundhouse to the head of Jack Riewoldt as the Tiger forward marked at the top of the square.

Dustin Martin was excellent in the first half but faded. Picture: Michael KleinSource: News Corp Australia

And dumb because they left Shaun Atley by the side of an isolated Dustin Martin, despite the Tiger ripping them apart en route to a 19 disposal, four-goal first half.

Brad Scott’s furiousness was evident in the subbing of Majak Daw at half-time and you had the feeling he would have removed several more if he could. Jack Ziebell, Ben Cunnington and Leigh Adams had just seven disposals each. Nick Dal Santo nine and no tackles.

Richmond, it must be said, opened with an intensity we haven’t seen for 12 months.

The Tigers ran through a banner that demanded them to “Restore The Roar” and it wasn’t long before it became apparent this was no hollow message.

With club greats Kevin Bartlett, Mal Brown and Dale Weightman in the commentary box, a Tigers of Old opening rocked North back on their heels.

Richmond assistant Mark Williams was so fired up he actually jumper punched Ben Griffiths as he ran to the bench to start the game.

Out on the ground Ty Vickery split open opponent Michael Firrito in the first 60 seconds and then held him on the ground in a head lock. Moments later Jake Batchelor took the opportunity to put his forearm into the head of Sam Gibson while spoiling.

Todd Goldstein was immense for North Melbourne in the ruck. Picture: Michael KleinSource: News Corp Australia

North’s first inside 50m didn’t come until the 10 minute mark, but after hanging in for long periods, were able to somehow draw level by quarter-time.

A 10-minute stalemate to open the second term was broken by the Tigers, who in a 20-minute period played the sort of devastating football we thought we’d see far more often this season.

They kicked five straight and seven of the last eight of the first half, exploding to a 36-point lead. They did it on the back of a rampant Martin, who was the best player on the ground at half-time, the run of Bachar Houli (19 touches), the grunt of Matt Thomas (16) and the exuberance of debutant Anthony Miles (13).

They had out-hunted and out-worked North Melbourne with ruthless efficiency. They brutalised them on the outside, winning uncontested ball 143-91 while taking a staggering 40 more uncontested marks.

At half time this was Richmond’s field of dreams. At the final siren, it was just another carcass in a desolate season.

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